Festivals

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The third and final day. I must admit that I am very sad to see this epic party come to a close. Day 3 at the WIRED Café included celebrity guests Holland Taylor (Mr. Mercedes), David Harbour and Matthew Modine (Stranger Things), Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy), Graham McTavish (Preacher), Ricky Whittle (American Gods) and more! DJ Artistic helped bring the house down by starting an amazing dance party worthy of any good con. I’ve been to countless parties for SXSW with some of the biggest brands sponsoring them and Wired is king among them. Thank you for having us out a our first comic and showing us Texans a great time.

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What a day we had at the Wired Cafe, costume dance-off and cake, what more could you ask for? Day 2 at the WIRED Café included a special celebration where Jamie Chung (The
Gifted) and Nicholas Thompson (WIRED Editor-in-Chief) cut the 10th Anniversary cake
to the tunes of happy birthday while guests cheered with a champagne toast.

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We started our day off right with some delicious bites and cold drinks at the annual Wired Cafe. The opening day of WIRED Café included celebrity guests, Justin Theroux
(Lego Ninjago), Dave Franco (Lego Ninjago), Katheryn Winnick (Vikings),
the Teen Wolf (Tyler Posey) and Timeless (Abigail Spencer) casts and more! We’ve been to a lot of events and parties through out the years but Wired Cafe has really out done themselves. We cant wait to see what or most importantly, who day two will bring.

*photo credit to Terry Flemings.

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The Baller ATX crew was thrilled to be invited back to Louisville this weekend for the 15th Annual Forecastle Festival! We enjoyed incredible hospitality and amazing music, art, and food last at last year’s fest (not to mention quite the storm!) so we are beyond excited to be heading back. The fest takes place this weekend, July 14-16 in Louisville, KY, and Baller ATX will be bringing you photos and experiences from Forecastle.

Beginning as a small neighborhood event in 2002, focusing on music, art, and conservationism – Forecastle has grown into one of the largest music festivals in the country, and draws tens of thousands attendees from all over the world. This year’s headliners include LCD Soundsystem, Weezer, ODESZA, and Sturgill Simpson. Along with Phantogram, newcomer K.Flay, Charles Bradley, the energetic Capital Cities, and so much more… Forecastle’s eclectic mix will surely have something for everyone.

Austin’s own Spoon will also be lending their talent to the amazing list of artists rocking Waterfront Park this weekend.

Featuring local eats, a Bourbon Lodge, and the Hunter S. Thompson-inspired Gonzo Bar, Forecastle’s unique style makes it a can’t-miss for festival lovers. We can’t wait to bring you coverage from the weekend, so stay tuned to Baller ATX for more!

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Acl Fest 2017 Lineup

by Dominic Mondragon

While i’ll admit, ACL Fest is nowhere close to free, it is one of my favorite fest. I am one of the rare few who went to the First ACL fest back in 2002, and I have actually been to every day of every ACL Fest since then (Except that one year it rained out on that Sunday).. ACL Fest has come along way since the dust fests, the dillodirt barefoot poopmud fest that came out of the dust fest, and I remember one Sunday that it hit 107 when the fest was still in September.

Regardless of what you think of ACL fest, it is one the best bang for your buck fest if you are open to different genres of music. The average ticket to a show at ACL’s Moody theater seems to go for around $70 these days. so with the fest at $255 a weekend this year, you basically make your money back after after 4 top tier bands.

Traci at ACL Fest 2002.

Check out the line up BELOW and get your tickets at 10AM (May 4th) on the ACL Fest site.

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Pecan Street Festival

by Dominic Mondragon

The first time I “legally” drank on the street (not in a bar) on sixth street, was at Pecan Street Festival. The festival’s name comes from the previous name of the world-renowned and twice renamed “Dirty Sixth.” Fun Austin fact… all the numbered streets used to be named after trees downtown, and all the cross streets are named after Texas rivers, in geographical order, from north to south (with the exception of Congress Ave.).

The fest is held twice a year, Spring and Fall, and this Spring it is going to be held the weekend of May 6th (11AM – 10PM) and May 7th (11AM – 8PM).

Now in its 40th year, this is an all ages event and free to the public. Besides the 300+ arts and crafts booths, vendors also sell food and alcohol, which you can legally drink on the street while you walk around, within the fest limits.

One of the biggest attractions is the free music. There are usually 3 stages, and the music starts at noon each day. The headliners are not as big as they have been in previous years, but there are a ton of great local bands showcasing their talent for those who care to stop by. You can see the full music line up here!

One of my favorite things about this fest, is that a lot of bars open up early. You can grab a drink, take a seat by an open window of your least favorite Austin bar, and people watch. The event is dog friendly, and you will see tons of them.

Parking can be a bitch, but it is downtown on a weekend, and we all know this already. I suggest getting there early to get a good space, or even better use public transportation and ride share so you can drink a little more and maybe make a day of it.

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The cutest little music festival ever…

by Traci Mondragon

Photos by Dominic Mondragon

As a first-time Old Settler’s festival attendee, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I figured it would be laid-back, fun, and friendly, but upon arriving, I quickly realized that it would become one of all-time favorite festival experiences.

Nestled in the hill country between Dripping Springs and Wimberley, Driftwood, TX is probably most well-known for a little BBQ joint called The Salt Lick. The smoked meat scent permeates the air for at least a 2 mile radius. But each April, the air is filled with more than just the aroma of brisket and sausage… the sweet sounds of folk, bluegrass, and country rock. You just immediately feel at home at Old Settler’s.

Me by the creek!

We started the day with a little stroll down to the creek, and ended up being drawn over to catch the last of the California Honeydrops set on the Hill Country Stage. Their upbeat horns and vocals brought a little California sunshine to the (rather large) crowd on this grey and cloudy Texas day.

We then meandered through the trees on the trail to the Bluebonnet Stage to catch Wood & Wind (an apparent festival favorite) for their set. As we walked, we passed several artisan vendors selling everything from incense to leather goods, as well as a few delicious smelling food and beer vendors. I made a mental note to stop for a funnel cake later.

California Honeydrops (by Dominic Mondragon

Wood & Wind (by Dominic Mondragon)

We made our way back to the Hill Country Stage just in time for Elephant Revival, and ended up staying for The Lone Bellow and the legendary Del McCoury Band.

As the evening grew colder, nothing could warm up the crowd like the smooth and sultry voice of Sarah Jarosz. Her music fills your heart and soul with joy and sadness all at once.

Sarah Jarosz (by Dominic Mondragon)

We ended the night with one of our favorite bands on earth… The Old 97’s! Their high energy and upbeat country-rock sounds were definitely the best way to end an amazing Old Settler’s Music Festival experience. Lead singer Rhett Miller never fails to entertain a crowd and start a party.

Old 97’s (by Dominic Mondragon)

This little hill country music and camping festival is one of the best we’ve been to, and we will definitely be back. From the family-friendly, chill atmosphere to the amazing food and incredible music… Old Settler’s was an incredible experience.

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Float Fest 2017

by Dominic Mondragon

Although only 4 years young, I am pretty sure you have heard of Float Fest. This annual music festival has grown substantially over the last two years, and has now become a beast. The fest takes place off Scull Rd in Martindale, just east of San Marcos. It is a two day fest and takes place July 22nd and 23rd this summer.

This year the price of admission also includes camping so you don’t have to worry about drinking and going home and coming back. You can stay on site, and party into the night both nights of the festival!

And besides for the camping and music, there is of course the float part. You can buy a 1 or 2 day pass to float the river during the day. That is the only part of the fest that we haven’t tried yet, and plan to do this year. They have also added a Carnival to the festival. I am excited to see what that is going to be like!

For more information on the festival, including ticket purchase (buy them before prices go up June 7th), you can visit floatfest.net.

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Baller ATX Heading to Old Settler’s Music Festival Next Weekend!

by Traci Mondragon

Now in its 30th year, Old Settler’s Music Festival is a celebration of music and art, and fun for the entire family. Since 1988, what was once a small bluegrass festival held at Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock, TX, this eclectic festival has brought artists and musicians from Americana to Jazz to central Texas. Old Settler’s Music Festival rolls into Driftwood, TX this Thursday, April 20 through Sunday, April 23. Your Baller ATX crew will be hanging out at Old Settler’s on Saturday, so stay tuned for more coverage next week!

Not only does the festival feature headlining acts like Old 97’s and Sarah Jarosz, but also showcases local artists like Shakey Graves and Peterson Brothers. The most unique part of this festival is its emphasis on songwriting, and commitment to music and arts education. Songwriting workshops are featured on Saturday with artists from various genres, and are open to all festival goers. The festival also includes a youth competition for artists or bands 18 and under, with prizes ranging from cash, to professional coaching and feedback, to performance opportunities at the festival.

In addition to the focus on youth artists and songwriting workshops, Old Settler’s also awards two music scholarships each year to deserving students of music to either Austin Community College or Texas State University. Applicants must have excellent transcripts, essays, and musical talent in order to be chosen. This year’s recipients, Ernesto Hernandez, and Takahiro Shimada, an international student from Japan. Both will continue their music education thanks in part to Old Settler’s!

Family fun will be plentiful as always at this year’s festival. Arts & Crafts areas, playgrounds, a petting zoo, face painting, and environmental education for kids are just a few of the activities available for the little ones at Old Settler’s Music Festival. If you’re taking advantage of the camping at the festival, the family can also enjoy swimming in cool Onion Creek, sing-alongs, and storytelling by the campfire.

There’s something for everyone at Old Settler’s Music Festival, and tickets are still available, including weekend passes and daily tickets. The festival also utilizes volunteers, so check here to see if they still need help this year!